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Combining Ability, Heritability, and Cytoplasmic Effects in Oats¹

Combining abilities, heritabilities, and cytoplasmic influences in oats (Avena saliva L.) were investigated in the F₁, F₂, and F₃ generations of reciprocal crosses involving winter and spring oat cultivars. Reciprocal differences between F₁ hybrids in the greenhouse were frequent for days to first head, growth habit, number of tillers, and plant height; maternal effects were a major component of variation. The need for vernalization appeared to be under cytoplasmic control, and this requirement may have influenced the expression of the other characteristics measured in the F₁ generation. Only a few significant differences between reciprocal populations were found in the F₂ and F₂ generations under field conditions, and maternal effects were of no general importance. Reciprocal effects were important in some cases for maturityand seed weight differences.

Specific combining ability was significant for plant height and tiller number in the F₁, but generally was not important in the F₂ and F₃, for maturity, plant height, straw strength, and yield. General combining ability was a consistent source of significant variation in the F₂ and F₃. Heritability estimates were highest for maturity and plant height and lowest for straw strength and yield. Combining ability and heritability estimates were influenced by the environment.

Key Words: Reciprocal crosses • Maternal effects • Vernalization

² Formerly Graduate Assistant (now Geneticist, Crops Research Division, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, at Pullman, Wash.); and Research Agronomists, Crops Research Division, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Associate Professors of Agronomy, The Pennsylvania State University, respectively.

Received for publication August 19, 1970.